Dark Children

TWOVisions

TWOVisions

‘Come inside.’ said The Guardian, ushering them both in towards a small wooden table. ‘Please, make yourselves comfortable.’

She looked to her daughter, who was clearly in awe of The Guardian’s presence. Stories of Rayna’s adventures were widely known amongst the forest dwellers and were a source of inspiration to her daughter prior to the incident, back when Rarni still possessed a blithe disposition.

‘You mentioned that the name of your daughter is Rarni, am I correct?’ asked Rayna, once all four were properly seated.

‘Yes, that is correct.’

‘Then, you must be Lyra.’

‘You know of me?’

‘Of course – we both do.’ replied The Guardian, who turned her attention to Kirika. ‘Nathanar told us about you in his report, he…’

The Guardian ceased talking mid-sentence, her attention now fixed on Kirika, who seemed intently focused on her daughter. There was a strange silence whilst Kirika studied Rarni. She wondered, indeed, she hoped, that the renowned scrier saw something the rest of them did not. Bringing Rarni to one of the vale’s most powerful scriers had been her final throw of the dice – she prayed that her last hope of salvation for her daughter would not be in vain.

‘Rarni,’ said Kirika softly, before placing a small wooden comb upon the table. ‘My name is Kirika. I am a scrier. Will you permit me to hold your hand?’

‘I don’t understand.’ said Rayna, clearly confused. ‘Kirika, what is going on?’

‘I will let Lyra explain.’

‘Lyra, is there something the matter with your daughter?’ asked Rayna.

‘She has been having nightmares.’

‘I see.’ said The Guardian. ‘Forgive my seeming lack of empathy, but, are such things not common amongst young Freylarkin?’

‘These are different. I am certain of it.’ she replied, vehemently. ‘The visions started after Rarni’s a*******n. They have been growing more intense since then, becoming increasingly frequent and darker in nature.’

‘Darker?’

‘When I hear Rarni’s screams, I run to her. I find her lying in her bed, awake, but not awake. Like in some kind of trance, caught in the space between places – somewhere that I cannot reach. I try to console my daughter as best I can. However, it is not enough.’ she said, wiping the tears collecting along her lower eyelids. ‘I fear the damage these visions are causing to her soul; Rarni is no longer the carefree child that I raised. Though she will not recount all of the details to me, I can sense that the images she has borne witness to haunt her.’

‘Could the Soulmancer have retuned?’ asked The Guardian, turning her attention back to Kirika. ‘If so, do you think that it is somehow responsible for Rarni’s nightmares?’

‘I do not believe that the Soulmancer has returned. Nathanar’s report on Xenia’s account suggested that the Soulmancer had an alternate agenda, one that lay beyond the vale. If Xenia’s account is accurate – and I have no reason to doubt it – the Soulmancer would not concern itself with the vale. However…’

‘What is it?’ she asked, impatiently.

‘The way you described Rarni’s nightmares, or visions, as you put it, interests me. Your daughter’s experiences sound more akin to scrying.’

‘Kirika, how is that possible?’ she asked, astonished by the renowned scrier’s outlandish suggestion.

‘Nightmares fade rapidly; they lose clarity the instant the sleeper awakens, leaving only a lingering fear that rapidly subsides. From what you have told us, your daughter’s experiences sound different. Rarni,’ said Kirika gently, now focusing her attention on her daughter. ‘How much do you remember of your visions?’

Rarni said nothing, instead lowering her head, avoiding eye contact with their hosts.

‘I realise that this is a difficult subject to talk about. Therefore, will you permit me to scry your past instead, so that I may see for myself that which torments you?’

Her daughter continued to remain silent.

‘If you permit my scrying, I believe that I can help you.’

‘Rarni, it breaks my heart that I am unable to help you with whatever it is that troubles you. However, it is possible that this kind Freylarkin can help you, where I cannot. Will you please allow her to at least try to help you?’

Again, Rarni remained silent, lowering her head even further. She turned to Kirika once more. The scrier continued to focus her attention on Rarni, looking for a sign, the consent needed to trawl through her daughter’s troubled past. Without any warning, Rayna leaned across the table, stretching her arms towards her daughter. The light bringer wiggled her fingertips, causing gentle sparkles of light to dance across the table towards Rarni. The soft twinkling lights cast ephemeral shapes across her daughter’s face, quickly garnering Rarni’s attention. Rarni tried to keep a straight face whilst more and more of the sparkles spilled from Rayna’s fingertips. They bounced across the wooden surface towards her daughter, before tumbling over the table’s edge into Rarni’s lap, like the Eternal Falls crashing onto its rocks below. A thin smile formed on her daughter’s face.

‘They are beautiful.’ said Rarni suddenly.

‘So are you, when you’re not being sad.’ replied Rayna.

‘I do not want to be sad.’

‘Then allow my friend to help you. She’s very good – but I don’t tell her that, otherwise her head might grow too big.’

She smiled as her daughter laughed quietly, the first time since the a*******n. The sparkles became more energetic, bouncing enthusiastically towards her daughter, lighting up Rarni’s entire face before spilling onto the floor where they quickly faded into nothingness.

‘It tickles.’ said Rarni, now giggling quietly.

‘I can do this all cycle.’

‘OK, she can help.’

‘Who can help?’

‘Your friend.’

‘Which friend is that?’

‘Kirika.’

‘Oh, you mean the one with the big head?’

‘Yes!’

She laughed, watching as Kirika gave The Guardian a brief sidelong look of disapproval, which Rayna and her daughter found highly amusing. The forest dwellers often talked of Rayna’s unusual dialogue and otherworldly ways, and now she was witnessing proof of the rumourmongering. The Freylarkai were typically a formal lot, rigid in their ways. Therefore, seeing her kin from a fresh perspective was a refreshing experience. She admired Rayna’s unconventional approach. Notwithstanding repeatedly flouting the norm, The Guardian seemed to bring the best out of people, regardless of her strange demeanour. Now, she saw first-hand how The Guardian emboldened those around her. The once familiar warmth of Rarni’s carefree disposition suddenly radiated through the cracks forming along the surface of the porcelain doll that had replaced her daughter, following the awful a*******n. Despite the growing laughter around the table, she could not hold back her tears of joy that glistened in the light of Rayna’s ability, sparkling as they fell upon the wooden table.

‘I cannot…thank you both enough.’ she stammered, struggling to clear the sudden lump in her throat. ‘Until now, Rarni has not opened up once since the…abhorrent event. Finally, my daughter is…returned fully to me.’

‘You do not need to thank us.’ replied The Guardian, before showering her daughter with one final flurry of twinkling lights. ‘I suspect that the difficult part is yet to come.’

As the last of Rayna’s light dissipated, she slowly reached across the table.

‘Rarni, will you hold my hands?’ she asked softly, giving the child a warm smile.

Lyra’s daughter tentatively placed her hands upon the table. She continued to reach forwards, slowly, until her fingertips touched those of the child. Turning her hands upside down, she pushed her fingers underneath Rarni’s own, before clasping the child’s hands firmly.

‘You will not feel a thing – I promise!’ she said, hoping to ease the child’s fears. ‘Oh, you should probably know something else before we start: my head is not that big.’

Rarni smiled, before releasing another weak laugh, no doubt caused by Rayna whom she sensed was playfully mocking her from the periphery of her physical vision.

Hundreds of images flooded her mind’s eye the instant she engaged her second sight. She travelled backwards rapidly through time, disregarding the visions leading up to their encounter. She saw Lyra shaking her gently. Then afterwards, disturbing images of Freylarkin butchery as she ran, whilst desperately seeking to evade what appeared to be lupine attackers. The images were not akin to those plucked from one’s dreams or dark fantasies – they were too lucid for that. The perspective was all wrong for someone of Rarni’s height and the glimpses she caught of her hands suggested that they belonged to someone of working stock, as opposed to those of a child. It was clear, to her at least, that the images she bore witness to belonged to another and not Rarni. For someone of her ability and experience, it was easy to understand why Lyra’s daughter felt so frightened by the images; they were not dreams, but instead, actual events that had transpired, witnessed from the perspective of another. She continued to sift through the galley of grim imagery, looking for clues that would reveal more of the child’s story to her. The nature of the attackers, the attire of the victims and what appeared to be a distant farmstead told her everything that she needed to understand the source of the imagery. Even so, how had Rarni made such a connection, she mused. The child was no scrier; at least, the typical signs were not present. Yet somehow, Rarni had acquired the visions of another, something that, to her knowledge at least, was only possible through scrying.

The familiar room, its occupants and the wooden table snapped into focus once more. The others were staring intently at her, no doubt seeking answers that only she could provide.

‘Rarni, you have been scrying.’

‘What!’ Lyra blurted out abruptly.

The child’s mother was clearly both confused and concerned by the frank diagnosis.

‘How is that even possible? Rarni was not born early in the pass. The colour of her hair--’

‘Has darkened.’ said Rayna, quickly interjecting. ‘Nathanar described your daughter’s hair as being blonde in his report, her eyes a pale blue. Yet that is clearly no longer the case.’

‘Her hair has darkened considerably. Although I must confess, I did not notice the alteration of Rarni’s eyes.’

Lyra lowered her head suddenly, cupping her face with her hands, and began to sob.

‘I am a terrible mother! How could I let this happen to my daughter?’

‘This is not your fault!’ she said, rising suddenly from her seat. ‘From what I understand, this change in your daughter began after the abduction.’

She circled around the wooden table towards Lyra, before embracing the distraught mother, comforting her.

‘You had no way of predicting the events that unfolded in the arena that cycle. If anyone should have known, that person was me.’

She continued to comfort Lyra, whilst Rayna saw to the child, giving Rarni an enormous hug.

‘You’re a brave young Freylarkin.’ said Rayna, pulling Rarni up onto her toes in a tight embrace.

Rarni said nothing, but she could tell that the child was sad seeing her mother in distress.

‘Scrying is a powerful ability, Rarni. It is fortunate that you are still young enough to be trained to wield your newfound power responsibly.’ she said, earnestly, before returning to her seat. ‘You have been given a gift. When used appropriately, scrying can help our people enormously. However, the images you saw concern me, as does the manner in which your ability has manifested. How you are able to trigger your ability without any apparent contact with the source of the visions is alarming.’

‘They just happen.’ said the child, meekly, as Rayna released her grasp.

‘When you are sleeping?’

‘Mostly. When I sleep, the images often come.’

‘With time and training, you should be able to control your ability. As such, I would very much like for both you and your mother to take up residence within the Tri-Spires, so that I can train you personally.’ she said, now shifting her focus back to Lyra. ‘Regrettably, my duties tether me to the Tri-Spires, therefore I am unable to visit you both here, at least not frequently enough for adequate training purposes. Of course, this is not a summons. I only request this of you both so that I can maximise my time spent schooling your daughter. Assuming of course, that you wish to accept my offer – you are in no way obligated to do so.’

‘Thank you.’ said Lyra. ‘I hope you will understand that I need to discuss this opportunity with Rarni first?’

‘Of course. This is your home. Living in the Tri-Spires is very different and often scary at first.’ she said, followed by another reassuring smile.

‘Mummy, I would like to go.’

‘Rarni, are you certain?’ asked Lyra, whose voice was still broken with emotion.

‘I do not want to feel this way.’ explained Rarni, solemnly. ‘If this lady can help, I would like to go with her.’

‘Please, call me Kirika, or big head if you prefer.’

Rarni laughed again, the joyous sound of which prompted a weak smile from her mother, Lyra, who nodded in acceptance.

‘We would like to accept your kind offer.’

‘I am pleased.’ she said. ‘Make your way to the Tri-Spires in your own time. Ask for Kayla when you arrive. She is my administrative aide who will help to get you both settled in – I will inform her of the situation.’

‘Thank you. Rarni, please thank Kirika for her kind offer.’

‘Thank you, Kirika.’ said the child, earnestly.

‘You are most welcome. It will be an honour to instruct you. Once we begin your training, you will get to meet another young scrier, whom I also instruct. Her name is Keshar.’

‘Mummy, can we go now?’ asked Rarni, enthusiastically.

Lyra laughed gently.

‘No, Rarni. We need to first pack our belongings, before we can make the journey to the Tri-Spires. I suggest that we start preparing for your grand adventure.’

‘In which case, we had best let you both get on with your extensive preparations.’ she said, rising from her seat, thus formally concluding their meeting.

‘Thank you again, both of you.’ said Lyra, before escorting her daughter to the door. ‘I am indebted to you both.’

‘You owe us nothing.’ said Rayna, before politely bidding the mother and daughter farewell. ‘See you both soon!’

After the pair had left, Rayna quickly closed the door, pressing her back firmly against it. She could see the look of concern on her ochre-coloured face.

‘They’re gone.’ said Rayna. ‘It’s time to spill it!’

She had known Kirika long enough to know when the scrier was withholding information. Upon her arrival in Freylar, its former queen, Mirielle – now ensconced at Scrier’s Post, following the end of her reign and subsequent self-imposed exile – had tasked Kirika with the responsibility of ensuring her integration into Freylarian society, specifically within the vale. However, since that time, she and Kirika had become like sisters, sharing their innermost thoughts with one another. As such, she knew her surrogate sister’s mannerisms well, in particular, when there was more information to be gleaned.

‘What did you see?’

‘One of the farmsteads has, or will be, attacked.’

‘What!’

‘I cannot be specific. It is impossible to narrow down the timing of events, since I witnessed the images second-hand through another. Though Rarni’s own visions took place in the past, I do not know if what she saw has yet to pass.’

‘I have The Blades garrisoned out there to prevent such attacks.’ she explained. ‘I will send word to those commanding them and have them report back to me.’

‘Leave that to me. I intend to call a council of war regarding the matter. As such, I need you to go and find Lothnar; despite agreeing to remain within the vale, I find it impossible to track his movements.’

‘You realise the irony, being a scr--’

‘Yes, yes – rub it in.’

‘He’s probably lying on his arse, down by the river. I will drag him back to the Tri-Spires for you soon enough.’

‘Good. Meet us beneath the arena.’

She half-expected Kirika to say more on the matter, but instead, the scrier stood opposite her in silence. Kirika appeared to drift off suddenly, lost in thought, distracting her from the task at hand.

‘Kirika.’ she said, trying to focus the scrier’s attention. ‘Kirika!’

‘Apologies, Rayna. I was…’

‘There’s more, isn’t there?’

‘It is Rarni. There is something off about the child.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The way her visions have manifested is abnormal for those with our ability. Furthermore, the clarity of the images was impressive for one new to the art. Typically, such vivid images are only made possible through practice for tens of passes – she has only just begun her journey.’

‘We can figure that out later. Our main priority should be to prevent the attack from happening, else deal with its aftermath. But, before we can proceed, we need to confirm the situation, immediately.’

‘Yes, you are right. I can satisfy my curiosities later.’

‘I do not mean to imply their lack of importance--’

‘Of course not. The safety of the people needs to come first. Go find Lothnar. I will assemble the others, with the exception of Gaelin and Natalya; both are stationed amongst the farmsteads – I fear for their safety.’

‘Nat can handle herself and Gaelin is no slouch in a fight, when the situation demands it.’

‘Even so, events are in motion now that I do no fully understand, and that unnerves me.’

‘You cannot follow that path, the one taken by Mirielle and your sister. Darlia hit rock bottom before realising the depths of its depravity, whilst Mirielle was completely undone by its destructive lure. With that said, this is not the time for second-guessing either. Make an informed decision, based on what you know, and see it through – no one can fault you for that.’

‘I know. Believe me, I have learned that lesson well. Still, I cannot prevent its dark presence from lapping at my shores. The weight of the responsibility of managing the welfare of our people is overwhelming at times.’

‘And that is why the revised council, the one you helped to put in place, exists, so that the burden can be shared – it is too much for an individual to shoulder alone.’

‘Since when did you become so wise?’ asked Kirika, expressing a playful grin.

‘Since someone voted that I should command The Blades, robbing me of my carefree lifestyle.’

‘Oh please, do not be so dramatic. That was a calling of your own making and you know it. Besides, you have both Nathanar and Natalya propping you up.’

‘I am not so sure about that. Natalya has always been a misfit and I fear that her free-spirited ways have corrupted Nathanar.’

‘Would it help to provide you with some much-needed perspective by going back to your mirror upstairs?’

‘Oh, shut up!’ she replied, followed by a grin of her own. ‘Run along and send your Sky-Skitters, whilst I haul Lothnar back to the Tri-Spires for you.’

He missed the adventure of the borderlands, the excitement of not knowing what dangers would present themselves from one cycle to the next. By contrast, living in the vale was boring and routine, each cycle bleeding into the next, with very little to distinguish them. Despite the comforts of living in the vale – for him at least – existence within its confines felt dull and uninteresting. He missed the cycles when he and Ragnar would talk, drink and fight during his visits to the vale, between his numerous scouting sorties. Since the battle for Bleak Moor and the skirmish at Scrier’s Post, the Narlakai ranks had been decimated. Furthermore, with no one to shepherd them, there was no longer a need for his scouts to manage and repel the soul stealers’ random incursions. To the south, the Knights Thranis defended Freylar’s southern lands, with little going on east or west of the vale. He sighed heavily. Essentially, the scouts had been benched, although Kirika had not worded his present situation as such, lamenting that his leadership and presence within the vale were paramount in helping to guide and embolden their kin in rebuilding everything that their people had lost following the Narlakai invasions. Despite the safe, boring state of affairs, it was spring in the vale – his favourite season. The flora and fauna had returned, enriching the forest once more, enhancing its natural splendour. Though he missed the borderlands, there was nothing quite like sleeping on a bed of thick lush grass beneath the open sky, gazing up at the Night’s Lights.

It was late morning. Unlike himself, his companion had barely moved from his spot since dawn broke. Krisis now lay comfortably sleeping across his lap, keeping him warm. Occasionally, the adolescent dire wolf’s ears would twitch abruptly, honing in on distant sounds seemingly worthy of attention. Since he had no pressing concerns to attend to, he allowed his faithful companion to sleep whilst he lazily watched the world pass by. Though he had quarters within the Tri-Spires, he rarely used them, preferring instead to make his home outside – neither he nor Krisis were suited to enclosed spaces, especially those made of stone. On the few occasions that he slept within his quarters, it was typically on the floor, next to Krisis. Sometimes the dire wolf would take his bed, but he preferred sleeping on a hard surface, having grown accustomed to it over the passes. The verdant grass took the edge off the hard ground, but he had no complaints.

The sound of a faint c***k suddenly caught his attention. Krisis leapt up on all fours, immediately turning to face the noise. He slowly rose to his feet, placing a firm hand upon the dire wolf’s back.

‘Easy boy. It is probably Rayna – at times, she is worse than Ragnar ever was.’

Krisis started to growl, clearly uneasy at the noise coming from the west. Focusing on the dense forest, he quickly picked out movement amongst the trees. Someone was moving awkwardly towards them. The figure’s movements were horribly clumsy, like someone trying to walk for the first time. He perceived no immediate threat from whoever it was that approached them, nevertheless, Krisis continued to growl angrily. Sliding a throwing knife out from a sheath strapped to the underside of his left arm, he crouched down slowly, alongside his companion, quickly blending in with the surrounding growth to conceal his silhouette.

‘Quiet boy, else you will give us away.’ he said, using his telepathic ability to commune with the wary dire wolf.

The mysterious figure continued to advance, sluggishly, as though something impeded their progress. Krisis’ growling abated slightly, like rumbling thunder slowly receding. Their gaze remained fixed on the figure, analysing its every move, looking for the smallest of details that would give their quarry away. The figure lurched forward on its right leg, before regaining its composure with the other. He had observed the same movement many times in battle, in each case the result of leg trauma.

‘They’re injured.’ he communed, tucking his throwing knife back into its sheath. ‘You take the rear.’

Krisis immediately ceased his growling and slunk off into the undergrowth to circle their quarry. He crept forwards, advancing slowly, allowing his companion time to get into position. The distance between them closed, enabling him to discern the true nature of their target: a female Freylarkin, who carried a bow in her left hand. Stained cloth had been tied around the Freylarkin’s right leg, confirming his suspicion. He stood up, alarming the Freylarkin, who then tried to shuffle around upon hearing the sound of Krisis’ vehement growling behind them.

‘Drop your weapon!’ he cried, in a deliberately intimidating tone.

The Freylarkin did as commanded, immediately releasing the grip on their bow, allowing it to drop to the forest floor with a dull thud.

Another c***k sounded. This time, the noise came from behind him. With deft movement and alacrity, he slid a knife from its place of rest, turned and threw it towards their fresh target.

‘Whoa!’ cried the familiar sound of Rayna’s voice.

The light bringer stepped out from behind a tree, before wresting his knife free from its thick bark.

‘Next time, check your target, Lothnar!’

‘You are still breathing.’

‘Barely!’ replied Rayna, who slowly jogged towards him.

‘You got closer this time.’ he said, sardonically.

‘Hardly. You were distracted.’ said Rayna, before handing him back his blade. ‘Who is this?’

‘A good question.’

He turned to face their quarry, before being quickly passed by Rayna, The Guardian’s inquisitive nature getting the better of her once more.

‘Rayna, wait!’

‘Leyla, is that you?’